Hebrew, Basic: Learn to Speak and Understand Hebrew with Pimsleur Language Programs [Audiobook] [Audio CD]

Pimsleur (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 074355079X | ISBN-13: 978-0743550796 | Publication Date: December 26, 2005 | Edition: 10 Lessons

The 10-lesson (5 CDs) Basic Course gives customers the chance to test drive the incredibly effective and efficient, world-famous Pimsleur Comprehensive Program. A real try it before you buy it deal. Customers will love the experience of acquiring the essential grammar and vocabulary of Hebrew during the spoken practice sessions. It is this ease of language acquisition that makes the full Comprehensive Pimsleur Program so popular and successful for adult language learners.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Pimsleur programs provide plenty of positive reinforcement that will keep learners on track, and we found that Pimsleur gave us more proficiency and confidence in speaking the new language than any of the other language programs we reviewed." -- AudioFile Magazine

"EXTREMELY ACCESSIBLE...each section within the lessons is short enough to hold our attention, and there is enough repetition to teach even those who consider themselves slow learners...Pimsleur [programs] are extremely thorough and easy to use -- quite lively!" -- Boston Herald

"Learn French while commuting, German while jogging, Spanish (or Russian, Italian, and Japanese) while cooking all with NO WRITTEN MATERIALS!" -- New York Daily News

"Designed for the ear and not the eye...the lessons provide PERFECT 30-minute bites of work." -- St Louis Post-Dispatch

"Learn to habla español or parlez français before your next trip aboard. The interactive LESSONS CHALLENGE STUDENTS to use new words in conversation instead of memorize them." -- American Way (American Airlines inflight magazine)

"I tried other language programs with little success...This is the best by far!" -- Pamela A. Mitchell, Pilot, International Society of Women Airline Pilots

About the Author

Dr. Paul Pimsleur devoted his life to language teaching and testing and was one of the world’s leading experts in applied linguistics. After years of experience and research, Dr. Pimsleur developed The Pimsleur Method based on two key principles:  the Principle of Anticipation and a scientific principle of memory training that he called “Graduated Interval Recall.”  This Method has been applied to the many levels and languages of the Pimsleur Programs.

Product Details

• Audio CD
• Publisher: Pimsleur; 10 Lessons edition (December 26, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 074355079X
• ISBN-13: 978-0743550796
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 6.5 x 2.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #88,178 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #16 in Books > Education & Reference > Foreign Languages > Hebrew > Instruction

More About the Author

Dr. Paul Pimsleur (b. 1926, d. 1976) devoted his life to language teaching and testing and was one of the world's leading experts in applied linguistics. He was fluent in French, good in German, and had a working knowledge of Italian, Russian, Modern Greek, and Mandarin Chinese. After obtaining his Ph.D. in French and a Masters in Psychology from Columbia University, he taught French Phonetics and Linguistics at UCLA. He later became Professor of Romance Languages and Language Education, and Director of The Listening Center (a state-wide language lab) at Ohio State University; Professor of Education and Romance Languages at the State University of New York at Albany; and a Fulbright lecturer at the University of Heidelberg. He did research on the psychology of language learning and in 1969 was Section Head of Psychology of Second Language Learning at the International Congress of Applied Linguistics.

Dr. Pimsleur was a member of the American Association of Teachers of French (AATF), American Educational Research Association (AERA), Modern Language Association (MLA), and a founding member of the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL).

His many books and articles revolutionized theories of language learning and teaching. After years of experience and research, Dr. Pimsleur developed a new method (The Pimsleur Method) that is based on two key principles: the Principle of Anticipation and a scientific principle of memory training that he called "Graduated Interval Recall." This Method has been applied to the many levels and languages of the "Pimsleur Programs."

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

33 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great product, November 10, 2006

By 

Steven Luftig (New York) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Hebrew, Basic: Learn to Speak and Understand Hebrew with Pimsleur Language Programs (Audio CD)

This is a wonderful way to learn how to speak a new language. The lessons or units (as the narrator says) start off with simple conversations which are then broken down into words and those words are then broken down into sounds. I found myself picking up the new sounds and words very quickly.
As you progress through the units, the conversations that are presented get a little longer and a bit more complex. The pace of each unit was excellent. There was enough time to repeat what the speaker said, but not so much that the flow of the conversation was lost.
I should say that I did study Hebrew many years ago for a short time, so some of the units were a review of sorts, rather than something brand new.
The only thing with which I had an issue was the fact that there is no printed material with this set of CDs. Some of the sounds in Hebrew can be difficult to understand without having something written to verify the spelling of certain words. Luckily, I am around people who speak Hebrew, so I was able to consult them for clarification of some words though any good English/Hebrew dictionary should be able to help you if use the Pimsleur course.
I have also used the German version of this course, and it was also very good for basic understanding of a new language.

24 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding introduction - Where's Vol. II?!, April 16, 2006

By 

P. Willson (United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Hebrew, Basic: Learn to Speak and Understand Hebrew with Pimsleur Language Programs (Audio CD)

I tried 'Instant Immersion' software - pretty much a disaster. 'Living Israeli Hebrew' is just wonderful -- for reading and writing, which I actually am learning because I like the program so much. Figure I'll be able to read a few signs, anyhow.

But for speaking, gotta go with Pimsleur. I never used this system before -- learned pidgin Japanese with "Learn in Your Car" system which was fine -- but I'm a Pimsleur convert, now.

The words are pronounced with great clarity, brief explanations in English of key issues or cultural idioms are provided, and the mix of little one-item quizzes as you go gives unexpected confidence. The pacing is excellent, and the way vocabulary and phrases build carefully upon previous lessons is wonderfully reinforcing.

Unfortunately, I gather there is only 'basic' and the whole'level I.' Be awfully nice to be able to get Level I in stages 1-2-3.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Learning Language Program !, September 10, 2010

By 

Maria L. Mclaughlin "mariamc21" (Deer Trail,Colorado) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Hebrew, Basic: Learn to Speak and Understand Hebrew with Pimsleur Language Programs (Audio CD)

I Love this program ! I orginally got the Vietnames program from the Library several year ago when I was planning a trip to Vietnam.I worked on it for several months before going overseas and had no problem communicating with native people group.My family is planning to go to Israel next year and I immediately thought of this program. It is very easy to use.Just pop a disk in the player and your ready to go! They give you complete pronouncations slowly at first breaking some words down into sounds.You just repeat after the speaker.It repeats it several times and goes on to the next word.After a few words,the speaker reveiws previously learned words and makes complete sentences with them.If a certain word is hard for you,stop the player and continue working on that word or phrase till it comes naturally to you.Each lesson is about a half hour.It is taking me about aa week to get through a lesson.We work on what we have learned through the week.I would also recommend a reading Hebrew program as well."Teach yourself to Read Hebrew" is great for adults and a kids version "Hebrew in 10 minutes a Day" is great and non-intimidating for the absolute beginner.I bought the "Lanuage Map" with this, to have a ready reference to the most common basic words you will use in the country.I believe you won't be disappointed !